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The last time we saw a new Desire phone, HTC had basically speckled it with paint in the name of fashion. We can't blame them -- the effect was pretty damn cool -- but now the company is trying something a little different with the new Desire 10 Lifestyle and Pro. HTC's midrange work is getting wrapped up in a classy new look, and (spoiler alert) it's a pretty impressive change. The Lifestyle is set to hit certain markets this month, ahead of the more expensive Pro model in November. Here's our first look.

If you never use Google Play Games, Google Play Books, Google+ or Google Newsstand, than good news: none of them will be installed on your next Android phone. The suite of apps used to be mandatory for any manufacturer that wanted to sell a device with essential apps like Google Play and Gmail, but new partner guidelines have taken them off of the required pre-install list. Put simply, this means there will be just a little more free space on the next Android smartphone you buy. And if you do use those apps? They're still available -- you'll just have to download them from the Google Play store to use them.

It's only been two days since Russian search giant Yandex accused Google of anticompetitive mobile shenanigans, and the country's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service has already leapt into action. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier today that Russia's antitrust body is kicking off a probe investigating how Google requires some smartphone makers to preload its apps onto their devices before they hit store shelves. If those deals are found to have run afoul of Russian law, Google could be on the hook for some hefty fines and might even have to change how it licenses Android to device makers.

According to a report by The Information, you may be seeing a few more Google apps preloaded on future Android devices. Confidential paperwork on new contract requirements details raising the amount of pre-installed software. Under the new guidelines, the number is set to total up to 20 apps-- more than doubling the current set of 9. What's more, Google's wares will also have to be displayed in strategic locations on home screens and in "prominent" folders. This means that Android device makers like Samsung, HTC and others would need to retool where the requisite apps are positioned and factor in the increased volume. As you may recall, Google aims to reign in customization of its software too, and ZTE has already opted for the Google Now launcher by default on its upcoming devices.

We've already heard about Windows RT's "modest" beginning, and now there's talk full-blown Windows 8 ain't flying off the shelves either. According to MS aficionado Paul Thurrott and one of his "most trusted sources," uptake of the new OS isn't hitting Redmond's targets, with the blame being put on OEMs and their "inability to deliver" more inspiring hardware with better availability. Some corroboration of Windows 8's tricky birth comes from Merle McIntosh, senior VP of product management of NewEgg, who says the online retailer was "prepared for an explosion" at launch, but that sales have "been slow going" to date. However, he says that early sales figures shouldn't be compared to Windows 7, since that OS arrived to "solve a Vista problem." He expects Windows 8 to gain traction in Q2 2013 when "pricing normalizes," which would certainly help to temper any launch frustrations.

Microsoft was warned of how its homegrown tablet might impact OEM relationships, and even acknowledged the challenge itself, but HP doesn't see it the same way. In a recent interview, the head of HP's PC arm Todd Bradley repeated the company's unconcerned stance -- if a little more bluntly -- saying, "I'd hardly call Surface competition." He pinned it on "very limited distribution," and that the pricey tablet "tends to be slow and a little kludgey as you use it." His feelings on the OS were also unfavorable -- "I'm not a big [Windows] RT fan either, by the way." -- and he had some choice words for potential customers: "If you want to go to any of the 30 Microsoft Stores in the United States to buy one, I think you should probably do that." Needless to say, we don't think Todd's sold on the Surface, or worried about competitive tussles when HP adds consumer tablets to its line-up next year (did someone say fire sale?). For the whole transcript, which includes a perfectly worded non-comment about HP's future smartphone plans, see the source below.

Relax, Gabe Newell. If you buy a new Windows 8 Pro PC and discover that you really do detest the OS that much, you may be able to switch back to an older version -- either Windows 7 or Vista, but not near-death XP -- under the same OEM license. Will many folks want to do that? Probably not, and in any case these so-called downgrade rights are actually only helpful in specific circumstances and they don't come with boxed retail versions of the software. The main practical benefit (albeit still a niche one) is that a manufacturer could technically offer a Windows 7 disc in the box with a new Windows 8 machine and give customers a choice of OS. Alternatively, the manufacturer could install Windows 7 by default (effectively a factory downgrade) and supply Windows 8 Pro installation media so that customers can upgrade for free when they feel good 'n ready. At some point, of course, staring at a redundant UI-switching button is going to grate.

RTM. To the everyman, those three letters may not mean much. To those waiting with bated breath for Microsoft's next operating system, it's a huge milestone worth celebrating. Microsoft has today confirmed that Windows 8 has been released to manufacturing, enabling its OEM partners to grab the final code and begin implementation on systems that'll be tempting you mightily starting on (or around) October 26th.

If you're curious about the specific rollout details, here goes. Starting August 15th, devs will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via their MSDN subscription, and IT pros testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through their TechNet subscriptions. On August 16th, customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). Also on that day, Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Win8. On August 20th, Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to the goods, while Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers on September 1st.

Update: Microsoft has just affirmed that starting today, any qualifying business in a supported market can now submit a Metro style app for Windows 8. Boom.

Microsoft has been devoting most of its OS update attention this year to Windows 8, not its suit-wearing Windows Server 2012 counterpart. Some of the mystery has been cleared up through word of a greatly simplified server OS lineup. Just four versions of Windows Server will sit in IT backrooms versus the whopping 12 from Server 2008 R2, with an emphasis on making the feature slope a little gentler. The biggest improvement is the near-identical feature set of Windows Server 2012 Standard compared to its Datacenter equivalent: the only advantage of Datacenter is the jump to unlimited virtual machines, giving smaller businesses a way to save some cash. Foundation and Essentials will cover the basics for these outfits if just 15 or 25 very real machines need to hop onboard. The base prices of $425 to $4,809 per copy for all but the OEM-only Foundation still make it doubtful that we'll be loading Server 2012 on a PC tucked into a closet at home, but it's evident between this and the streamlined Windows 8 selection that Microsoft wants to avoid the flood of versions that confused buyers during the Windows Vista and 7 days.

Windows RT, which we're obliged to remind you is the version that runs on ARM hardware, will reportedly cost between $80 and $95 for OEMs to license. Whilst at Computex, VR-Zone asked various companies the cost differences between building Android slates (which Google offers for free) and Microsoft's latest variant. The anonymous enterprises responded with figures between $80 and $95 -- averaging out at $85. If true, then Metro-powered tablets will cost several hundred dollars more than their Android-running rivals -- which would certainly hamper its entry into the market.

If you haven't done it in a while, opening your PC case can be like a slasher flick -- you know you'll see something disgusting, but you're never sure what. Taiwan's YoungYear Electronics claims to stop the horror with its Green Mesh case, which has neither fans to suck dust, nor filters, and keeps your components cool with a "chimney effect" instead. It's this same action that repels dust out the top, so that only one quarter the usual amount of filth is drawn in -- according to the company. The only downside is that with poor heat dissipation, the maximum power supply unit size is 300 watts -- which probably scratches it off the list for most modders or power-users. For the rest, if you don't mind your computer's innards blowing in the breeze, at least you'd have no nasty case-opening frights.

Coming out of its shell as a possible Kinect foe, SoftKinetic has launched a new range sensor at Computex right on the heels of its last model. Upping the accuracy while shrinking the size, the DepthSense 325 now sees your fingers and hand gestures in crisp HD and as close as 10cm (4 inches), an improvement from the 15cm (6 inches) of its DS311 predecessor. Two microphones are also tucked in, making the device suitable for video conferencing, gaming and whatever else OEMs and developers might have in mind. We haven't tried it yet, but judging from the video, it seems to hunt finger and hand movements quite competently. Hit the break to see for yourself.

Professional Kit Available For Developers To Start Building a New Generation of Gesture-Based Experiences

TAIPEI & BRUSSELS – June 5, 2012 – SoftKinetic, the pioneering provider of 3D vision and gesture recognition technology, today announced a device that will revolutionize the way people interact with their PCs. The DepthSense 325 (DS325), a pocket-sized camera that sees both in 3D (depth) and high-definition 2D (color), delivered as a professional kit, will enable developers to incorporate high-quality finger and hand tracking for PC video games, introduce new video conferencing experiences and many other immersive PC applications. The DS325 can operate from as close as 10cm and includes a high-resolution depth sensor with a wide field of view, combined with HD video and dual microphones.

In addition, the company announced the general availability of iisu™ 3.5, its acclaimed gesture-recognition middleware compatible with most 3D sensors available on the market. In addition of its robust full body tracking features, iisu 3.5 now offers the capacity to accurately track users' individual fingers at 60 frames per second, opening up a new world of close-range applications.

"SoftKinetic is proud to release these revolutionary products to developers and OEMs," said Michel Tombroff, CEO of SoftKinetic. "The availability of iisu 3.5 and the DS325 clearly marks a milestone for the 3D vision and gesture recognition markets. These technologies will enable new generations of video games, edutainment applications, video conference, virtual shopping, media browsing, social media connectivity and more."

SoftKinetic will demonstrate the new PC and SmartTV experiences and at its booth at Computex, June 5-9, 2012, in the NanGang Expo Hall, Upper Level, booth N1214. For business appointments, send a meeting request to events@softkinetic.com.

The DS325 Professional Kit is available for pre-order now at SoftKinetic's online store (http://www.softkinetic.com/Store.aspx) and is expected to begin shipping in the coming weeks.

iisu 3.5 Software Development Kit is available free for non-commercial use at SoftKinetic's online store (http://www.softkinetic.com/Store.aspx) and at iisu.com.

About SoftKinetic S.A. SoftKinetic's vision is to transform the way people interact with the digital world. SoftKinetic is the leading provider of gesture-based platforms for the consumer electronics and professional markets. The company offers a complete family of 3D imaging and gesture recognition solutions, including patented 3D CMOS time-of-flight sensors and cameras (DepthSense™ family of products, formerly known as Optrima product family), multi-platform and multi-camera 3D gesture recognition middleware and tools (iisu™ family of products) as well as games and applications from SoftKinetic Studios.

With over 8 years of R&D on both hardware and software, SoftKinetic solutions have already been successfully used in the field of interactive digital entertainment, consumer electronics, health care and other professional markets (such as digital signage and medical systems). SoftKinetic, iisu, DepthSense and The Interface Is You are trade names or registered trademarks of SoftKinetic. For more information on SoftKinetic please visit www.softkinetic.com. For videos of SoftKinetic-related products visit SoftKinetic's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/SoftKinetic.

We've been hearing about (and even seeing) Stream TV's Ultra-D autostereoscopic 3D chops for a while now, but so far there hasn't been any actual hardware to show for it. That could change soon, since the company is announcing OEM Pegatron as a manufacturing partner today. Ultra-D's claim to fame is the ability to bring clear 3D to displays of varying sizes, from portables to HDTVs with no loss of quality as well as SeeCube 2D-to-3D conversion technology. Pegatron builds devices for more recognizable names like Apple, Asus, Toshiba and others, and once they're ready to build products around the tech it should be able to put them together at more affordable prices than we've seen for glasses-free 3D hardware so far. CEO of Stream TV Mathu Rajan says this partnership will help it bring Ultra-D products to customers this year, so it might be time to clear out some space next to that 3DS and Evo 3D. We'll be convinced when we have Ultra-D hardware in our own hands, but until then you can check out the full press release after the break.

Panasonic and Sanyo have only been life partners for about a year and a half now, but already the relationship has created a bundle of joy -- of a sort. Hot on the heels of some less-than-chipper financial news comes word that Panasonic is spinning off a portion of Sanyo. Sanyo DI Solutions is the name for the new creation, which will represent the company's efforts in producing OEM digital cameras -- cameras that get slapped with other manufacturers' labels before being sold as such. According to AV Watch, Panasonic's ownership had put a strain on Sanyo's fragile manufacturing partnerships, partnerships that can now bear beautiful, rebadged fruit. Sanyo DI Solutions will start with 10 million yen in capital and will go fully independent on July 1st. Hopefully it remembers to call home from time to time.

The idea isn't new to the aftermarket crowd, but Mopar has just announced the summer arrival of the industry's first OEM wireless power mat, which is designed specifically for the 2013 Dodge Dart. It'll fit snugly within the center console tray, and will charge any properly equipped MP3 player or smartphone. The power mat will retail for $200 and will be available from Chrysler's network of dealers. As for the 2013 Dart itself, it'll set you back a mere $15,995. You'll find an inside peek at Mopar's solution, along with the full PR, right after the break.
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02013 dodge dart2013dodgedartautoautomobilecarcarschryslerdodgedodge dartdodgedartminipostmoparoemvideowireless chargerwireless chargingwirelesschargerwirelesschargingTue, 10 Apr 2012 05:07:00 -040021|20211847https://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/not-weaned-from-windows/https://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/not-weaned-from-windows/https://www.engadget.com/2012/04/08/not-weaned-from-windows/#comments

This recent announcement that Dell would not be pursuing new smartphones for the time being following the retirement of its Venue Windows Phone devices raised the spotlight on PC companies -- at least those other than Apple -- and why they have struggled so mightily in the US smartphone market. Virtually every major PC company, including HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Toshiba and ASUS, has either passed completely on entering the domestic market or released only a handful of models without much carrier support behind them. HP, of course, made the largest investment in mobile with the purchase of an ailing developer of devices and operating systems. But even before that Palm slapped its forehead, HP had only casually flirted with smartphones, releasing a few token Windows Mobile smartphones.

PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps.

To be fair to these companies, the investment demands of the ultra-competitive smartphone market have proven formidable for many companies, including many, like Motorola, Nokia and RIM, that were once considered masters of the game. Even companies that have not seen such a prolonged decline, like HTC, can find the tables turned on them in the course of a financial quarter. But PC companies have been fighting the battle with some heavy handicaps.

Let's pretend you went ahead and purchased a shiny new Motorola RAZR this past November. Now, just for the sake of argument, let's say Motorola -- only months later -- released a new version of that handset with a battery that had some pundits asking, 'where has this phone been my whole life?' Yeah, that happened. But if you've managed to overlook Moto's past transgression, and are willing to sink another $110 into your handset, you too can experience the battery that just won't quit. The Cellphone Repair Shop is hawking a kit that will outfit your plain old RAZR with genuine Motorola RAZR Maxx parts -- battery included. The site recommends that you send your handset to its repair facility for "professional installation," but we're sure some of you are up to the challenge. How about it, RAZR owners, are any of you tinkerers going to try and Maxx-out your handset?
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accessoriesaccessoryandroidbatteriesbatterybattery packbatterypackcellphone repair shopcellphonerepairshopdroiddroid razr maxxdroidrazrmaxxmaxxmobilemobilepostminimotorolamotorola droidmotorola razrmotoroladroidmotorolarazroempowerrazrreplacementreplacement batteryreplacementbatteryretrofitsmartphonesmartphonesupgradeThu, 29 Mar 2012 13:13:00 -040021|20203706https://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/vitoa-ics-tablet-hands-on/https://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/vitoa-ics-tablet-hands-on/https://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/vitoa-ics-tablet-hands-on/#comments

It's no surprise that notebooks, Ultrabooks and tablets were pretty much the flavors of the day here at CeBIT, and we've already picked out a few choice selections. So, we're bringing you a second OEM Android tablet, but we liked the sound of it so much, we just had to give it a try. Chinese manufacturers certainly seem to be embracing the 9.7-inch form-factor, and that's what we have here. That translates to a 1024 x 768-pixel display, which benefits from in-plane switching (IPS) for improved viewing angles. Sadly, it's another absolute fingerprint magnet, so you'll need to keep your cloth handy or learn to live with it. We barely handled it at all, and we'd already given the feds enough to catch us several times over.

The innards are pretty modest, with a "Boxchip" A10 1.5GHz processor, 512MB of RAM and 4 gigs of internal memory, but it seemed to run just fine. We were handling an engineering sample at the show, which meant there were a few visual blemishes, but reps promised that they won't find their way into production versions. Unlike other budget (and some not-so-budget) slabs, this one has a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and a relatively impressive 5-megapixel shooter around the back, supported by a 6,000mAh battery -- which the makers promise provides up to 8 hours of use. Getting out on to the internet can be done via WiFI (802.11b/g/n), or over 3G by popping in a SIM. The all-plastic finish has a few quirks, like the power button sitting next to the camera, but it doesn't look all-together bad given what you're paying -- well, what OEMs will be paying, at least, considering that this tab won't be shipping directly to consumers. As always, we took it for a quick spin, which you can see in the video just after the break.%Gallery-150021%
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android tabletandroidtabletcebitcebit2012hands-onipsips displayipsdisplayoemtabletvideoviotaviota m970viota tabletviotam970viotatabletWed, 07 Mar 2012 12:12:00 -050021|20187969https://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/yitoa-m9704-9-7-inch-ics-tablet-hands-on/https://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/yitoa-m9704-9-7-inch-ics-tablet-hands-on/https://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/yitoa-m9704-9-7-inch-ics-tablet-hands-on/#comments

Hall 17 at CeBIT in Hannover could just as well be downtown Shenzhen. Step inside its cavernous walls, and the air lights up with the sound of chirpy pop music, and excited sales chatter. But once you tune out the aural assault and look past the swathe of Gingerbread MIDs, you might just find yourself a catch. This M9704 9.7-inch, Android 4.0 slate from Yitoa is one such get. Okay, so it won't be winning any awards for original design, but with a 1.2GHz Cortex A8 processor and 1GB of RAM -- all for $120 -- we were certainly curious to know more. The first thing you might notice from the pictures is the combination keyboard and case. It might not be the only time we've seen something like this, but it's the first we've seen that offers it as a standard accessory.

Look up from that keyboard, however, and you'll be staring at a fingerprint-hugging 9.7-inch 1024 x 768-pixel capacitive touchscreen. There are two cameras; up front there's a very modest 0.3-megapixel affair, with 2-megapixels around the back. Connectivity-wise, there's only WiFi on board, but you do get 802.11n, as well as good 'ole b/g -- all powered by a 3,000mAh battery. It's always hard to tell what the final build will be like with OEM products, but the metal finish on the rear and glossy screen up front certainly look the part, and in our hands-on, it felt as solid as any other tab in this price range -- perhaps even a little better. It's important to point out that the $120 asking-price is for wholesale orders, so you can expect there to be a mark-up of some kind if this ever hits the stores in the U.S. If you want to get a taste of it in action, hit up the hands-on video after the break.%Gallery-150007%
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androidandroid tabletandroidtabletcebitcebit 2012cebit2012chinahands-onice cream sandwichicecreamsandwichicsoemtabletvideowholesaleyitoayitoa m9704yitoam9704Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:09:00 -050021|20187883https://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/swiftkey-launches-sdk-phones-and-tablets-get-more-predictable/https://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/swiftkey-launches-sdk-phones-and-tablets-get-more-predictable/https://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/swiftkey-launches-sdk-phones-and-tablets-get-more-predictable/#comments

SwiftKey is responsible for as many saved typing hours, as it is crushing affirmations of just how predictable we really are. A fact that can now be drilled home by infinitely more devices, thanks to a new SDK for OEMs. Developers for a variety of platforms and programming languages (including C++, iOS and JVM) can access SwiftKey's core language-engine technology for their own UI or on screen keyboard, and with support for over 40 languages, we can expect many more tablets, phones and even white goods to worryingly know what we were going to say.

Here at AMD's Financial Analyst day, the company had a little demo area which is where we spotted this little number -- an ODM reference unit from Compal, stuffed with the company's upcoming Trinity APU. We're told the unit above is one of several, which are proof-of-concepts used to convince and show OEMs powerful, yet thin machines the duo hopes they'll bring to market. Inside this particular prototype is one of the lower voltage variants of Trinity (read: either the 17W or 25W part), which enables that svelte 18mm profile. Seeing as it is a one-off (and one that'll never come to market in this form), our impressions are moot, yet we'd be remiss if we didn't point out we were a little dismayed by its chassis, which was flimsy enough to put the existing flex champion, Toshiba's Z830, on notice. Still, with an estimated starting price of half an Ultrabook (roughly in the $500 to $600 range), we'll leave it up to you to decide exactly how much you value torsional rigidity. Other then that, viewing angles seemed good from the brief demo reel we watched, and there's plenty of connectivity onboard, with two USB 3.0 ports, mini-DisplayPort and HDMI flanking the left, followed by audio jacks, another USB, Ethernet and power along the right. Looks like thin and lights are about to get a whole lot more interesting later in the year, which, frankly is great -- it's about time Chipzilla got some worthy competition.%Gallery-146319%

Freshly anointed RIM CEO Thorsten Heins sat down with Crackberry this week to discuss his vision for the future of BlackBerry, his thoughts on Android and, most strikingly, his recent comments about maintaining the status quo. Shortly after his appointment, Heins issued a video address in which he implicitly claimed that RIM doesn't need an overhaul. "If we continue doing well what we're doing, I see no problems with us being in the top three players worldwide in the next years in wireless," the exec said. At the time, we and many other observers read this as a sign that the Heins era would look a lot like the Balsillie-Lazaridis era, but according to the new CEO, that's not the case. "I was talking about drastic or seismic changes," he clarified. "What I was trying to address was that there was some suggestion that RIM should be split up or should even be sold. My true belief is that RIM has the strength and the assets that we can really succeed in this market." Heins went on to claim that there's already "a lot of change" going on at the company -- citing the company's adoption of QNX as a prime example -- and that there's "no standstill at any moment here at RIM."

During the same sitdown, Heins also reiterated his belief that RIM shouldn't outsource its software needs to Android, because BlackBerry, in his view, is a hallmark of differentiation. "Just take a look where the Android OEMs are," Heins said. "Take a look at their recent announcements and what you will immediately see is there is just no room for differentiation because they are all the same." The exec acknowledged that RIM may be taking the road less traveled, but seemed confident in its ability to rise to the challenge -- even if there are some bumps along the way. "This is not baking cookies," Heins elaborated. "This is building high tech products. From time to time your aspirations and your development timelines hit some bumps in the road that were not foreseen."
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androidblackberrybusinesscellphoneceoexechandsetindustryjim balsilliejimbalsilliemike lazaridismikelazaridismobilemobilepostcrossmoneyoemqnxresearch in motionresearchinmotionrimsmartphonestrategyFri, 27 Jan 2012 08:49:00 -050021|20158279https://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/lenovo-announces-brainier-classmate-pc-heads-to-top-of-the-cla/https://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/lenovo-announces-brainier-classmate-pc-heads-to-top-of-the-cla/https://www.engadget.com/2012/01/12/lenovo-announces-brainier-classmate-pc-heads-to-top-of-the-cla/#comments

Kids have been honing their computer smarts on Intel-based Classmate PCs for a few years now, and Lenovo's just sewn its name inside the collar of its second generation of student-friendly lappies. Based on the chip maker's "Learning Series," Lenovo's new boy comes in clamshell and convertible flavors, and brings an Atom N2600 processor, a max of 2GB DDR3 memory and up to a 320GB -- or 32GB solid state -- storage along to class. It'll launch in uniform grey (like the first generation pictured), but orders that meet the minimum requirement can choose to splash a little color on top. As before, these things are designed to handle the daily rigors dished out by a nine-year-old, hence a new rotating hinge on the convertible, strengthened and designed to last "tens of thousands of cycles." Should be enough to see you into adulthood then. It's available to institutions as of this month, but if you want to know more, hit the PR after the break.
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atomatom n2600atomn2600cedar trailcedartrailclamshellclassmateclassmate pcclassmate+classmatepcconvertibleeducationeducationalintelintel atom n2600intelatomn2600laptoplearning serieslearningserieslenovolenovo classmate+ pclenovoclassmate+pcnetbookoemThu, 12 Jan 2012 03:28:00 -050021|20146105https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/pantech-pocket-review/https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/pantech-pocket-review/https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/pantech-pocket-review/#comments

Hundreds of smartphones of all shapes, sizes and colors pass through the doors of Engadget HQ every year, so it's natural for a few oddball devices with crazy form factors to end up in our hands from time to time. The Motorola Flipout, LG DoublePlay, Kyocera Echo and Samsung DoubleTime are all instances of carriers trying something new, seeing what sticks. Of course, pushing out a phone with an unproven form factor is a huge gamble for a mobile provider, and as a result they only ship to stores in low volume and rarely receive any kind of marketing campaign at its launch. Indeed, the vast majority of these types of phones are low-end devices aimed at young adults and first-time smartphone buyers, but we still find it adventurous to take a break from the monotony of black slabs and try out something completely different.

The Pantech Pocket is definitely unique -- not because it flips or slides a weird way or because it has two and a half screens, but because its 4-inch display, whose 4:3 aspect ratio promises 20 percent more horizontal real estate. Did AT&T's gamble on the display pay off? Is it worth the $50 that AT&T demands with a two-year commitment attached? Time to find out below.
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1ghz4-inchattcarrier iqcarrieriqhspa+mobilemobilepostcrossoempantechpantech pocketpantechpocketqualcomm msm8255qualcommmsm8255reviewsvgaTue, 27 Dec 2011 16:35:00 -050021|20135434https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/leica-rehashes-panasonics-lumix-fz150-as-the-v-lux-3-because/https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/leica-rehashes-panasonics-lumix-fz150-as-the-v-lux-3-because/https://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/leica-rehashes-panasonics-lumix-fz150-as-the-v-lux-3-because/#comments

Leave it to Leica to rebrand a recent Panasonic camera, tack on its iconic red dot and then likely charge a premium. Such is the case with its "new" V-Lux 3 digital superzoom, which is essentially its take on the venerable Lumix FZ150 we spent some hands-on time with back in August. To recap, this shooter features a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, Leica's DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 - 108 mm f/2.8 - 5.2 ASPH lens (that's 25 - 600mm for you full-frame buffs), 1080p AVC HD video recording at up to 60fps with stereo sound and an a77-like 12fps continuous burst mode (albeit using manual focus). On back, you'll find an articulating 3-inch LCD loaded with a 460K pixel resolution and a 0.2-inch EVF, both of which feature nearly 100% frame coverage. While there's no word price, you can surely expect the V-Lux 3 to cost a few Benjamins more than its Lumix counterpart when it hits shelves in January. Hey, at least you can say it's a Leica, right?